March News Letter

Second Vice: Marie Tiborcz; Treasurer: Bonnie Teskey; Secretary: Teresa Vermeulen

Allan Armitage is a Professor from the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, where he teaches, conducts research on new garden plants, and runs the University of Georgia Horticulture Gardens . Widely regarded as one of the world's foremost horticulturists, he took his schooling at MacDonald College, Quebec, University of Guelph, Ontario and Michigan State, Michigan. He is the author of ten books, six CDs and two Internet courses for gardeners, lectures around the world and has won numerous horticultural awards. In addition to being the author of horticultural books, he has written articles for Fine Gardening, Greenhouse Grower magazine, and the journals of the American Society of Horticultural Science, among others. One of his books is entitled Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens.

Maria Pap of Flora Gardens is attempting to have Mr Armitage speak at St. Clair College the evening of November 15th. Mr. Armitage tries new plants, especially testing them for survival in excess heat and humidity. Sounds like a man we need around here! Although the date is not set in stone Maria is trying to get an idea of how many might be interested in hearing Mr. Armitage.

The cost would be $10.00 per person. Although he has not indicated exactly what he would speak on, Maria is quite sure he would be speaking on his most recent book and showing slides. Maria has heard him speak on several occasions and has also been in contact with him many times over the past several years. At our October 24th meeting we will be sending around a sheet for you to sign should you be interested in hearing this speaker. We will get the information on this sheet over to Maria Pap by Thursday morning and get any new information regarding this evening to you as soon as it is available. If you wish to keep current on any information on this event yourself Maria would be happy to hear from you at 519-737-6528, or at maria@floragardens.com She also has a website, www.mnsi.net/~mariapap/ ,however currently there is no information about this event on the site.

Well hasn’t this just been the most beautiful Fall? I have enjoyed it so much. Just think how much extra time we have had to get the garden cleaned up and to bring in our plants, unless you are like me, of course. I am no further ahead because I have simply put off doing most of it. One of these days I know I will be for a rude awakening. I sure have enjoyed this extra string of beautiful sunny days though. Autumn really can be the nicest time of year.

October 27^th brings us our District 11 Annual meeting which will be held in Belle River this year. We congratulate our friends at Belle River on their 15^th Anniversary.

Do you realize next month will be our last meeting of the year? Where on earth did this year go? I hope you all come to our November meeting where we will have a wonderful potluck dinner and enjoy watching our guest speaker make some Christmas arrangements. It really has been a wonder year in the club. Thanks to all who have helped make it a success. Looking back we have had some great speakers, an interesting bus trip, a couple of good plant and seed exchanges and a really nice Flower Show. But where the time has gone Ii do not know.

I want to thank all of you who helped plant the tulips these past few weeks and to Kathy Hudak for organizing it. Despite some disappointments in the quality of the bulbs, including mold and rot, Kathy has done a remarkable job, as she always does. Thanks to Tim O’Hagen for all the work with the Legion bed and the daffodil project. What would we ever do without the devotion of people like Kathy and Tim? They inspire all of us and we appreciate it so much.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you have a fun time on Halloween. See you next month. Sandy

On Thursday, October 18^th, Sandy, Kathy, Bonnie and I started out at 9:30 am to go to see Paul Zammit speak at Watford Centennial Hall at 7 pm. After many stops and a million laughs we reached our destination, (a 2 hour drive) at 6:30 pm. Krista Fisher is President of Watford Warwick Society and she opened the meeting welcoming everyone and telling us of their ongoing projects in Watford as well as their activities during the year. On alternate years they do a Garden Tour and a Christmas Home Tour.

Each year in June they hold a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ in the Sunken Gardens which I thought was a very nice idea. As you know---without all of ‘YOU’ there would not be an Essex & District Horticultural Society.

Paul Zammit is a vibrant, enthusiastic plant lover as well as a dynamic speaker. His love for plant material shows through while he dances across the stage. He presented a beautiful slide show – Annuals, Shrubs and Perennials. He does stress that flowers are beautiful, but remember, foliage is what is important in your garden – colour, variegation and texture. The flowers are pretty, but they come and go and foliage is what makes a continual statement. Watering your garden right up until the ground starts to freeze is also very important. If you do not get sufficient rain in October and November you must still water. Most people talk of putting their garden to bed. Paul makes it quite clear --- if there is foliage on a plant it is not ready to go to bed. Let it be; make sure it has sufficient water and let the eyes on the roots do what they are supposed to do in the fall.

Paul also told us about a Hosta virus that is showing up at garden centers. If you go to the Ontario Hosta Society Website, www.ontariohostasociety.com you will learn more about this virus. He does stress that it is the public as well as the retailers who MUST STOP this virus. There are also nematodes that are playing havoc with Hosta varieties. Please visit the website.

Always feel the leaves of a Hosta you are about to purchase. When the leaves are thick and almost leathery they will be more resistant to slugs. He offered another tip for ridding your garden of pesky slugs. Sprinkle dry oatmeal around the plants. The slugs will eat the oatmeal and when it gets wet inside their bodies it will swell; voila, instant results.

After the presentation there was a question and answer period which was also educational. Again, Paul Zammit, manager of Plant World in Etobicoke, is a phenomenal speaker. Their website is www.plantworld.net and you can join and receive catalogues as well as newsletters.

There were numerous door prizes drawn and Kathy won a beautiful wooden bench planter with ivy geraniums. We all enjoyed coffee and dessert.

Paul had a list of plants that he recommends for gardens. Some are old fashioned and some are new, but all are very reliable. These lists are available at our meeting October 24^th, or by e-mailing Lynn Imeson lynneal@gosfieldtel.com

Our Vice President, Kathy Hudak reports that the downtown beds have been cleared of annuals, the few perennials that were planted in the beds in the Spring are doing well, and tulips and daffodils have been planted in all the beds. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped.

I suppose many of you have experienced the following because of our topsy-turvy weather this year: our silky dogwood, kerria japonica shrub, various viburnum, Persian Cornflower, even Hosta in half barrels on the deck are all re-blooming this fall. We are pleased like everyone else that the weather has remained mild so late this year. This has allowed our four huge late blooming pink mums to actually open their buds and flower. Many years the buds open so late that they end up freezing.....Lynn

Many have expressed interest in instruction sessions in curved rustic garden stones, flat (reinforced) stepping stones and hyper Tufa troughs. A good time for a trough session is in February and March (in a heated shop) so I will alert you to session times in the January and/or February newsletters. Since the curved and flat stones are made with Rhubarb or Hosta Leaves

The best time for those sessions is in May/June. Again I will let everyone know times of these sessions through the newsletter.

On Wednesday, October 17th, at the Belle River Horticultural Club meeting, our President Sandy Ellenor gave a wonderful talk on Poisonous Plants including a Power Point show of beautiful examples of the plants. Her presentation table was loaded with informative handouts and newspaper articles about poisonous plants and accidental poisonings including some in our area. A friendly witch stirred a lovely Rosemary Fruit Punch at the table for Sandy while she spoke. A stunning ring bouquet of herbs completed the lovely setting. The audience was very pleased with her presentation and I heard many people voice favourable comments.....Lynn

We have just heard that Deb Ramsay has resigned from the position of Co-ordinator for the Youth Gardening Club, effective November 21th, 2007. We are sad to see you go Deb. We appreciate all you have done for the children and the program. Thank you for doing such a fine job.

In community events, you may be interested in a speaker coming to Maidstone Bicentennial Museum on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 7: pm. Dr. David Beasley will be speaking on his new book “The Watercolours of Charlotte Hills Beasley” A book signing and refreshments will follow; Admission by Donation. For further info call Vicki at 519-728-1587.